Chapter 310
Chapter 310
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 310
Chapter Title: Chapter 7-1. The Sixth Fragment, Requiem
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The capital was sprawling, and the imperial palace was disgustingly vast. Without the dragon head as a mode of transport, they would have been in real trouble. The buildings were one thing, but the paths were so labyrinthine that heading toward the pillar of fire on foot would have taken ages, especially with Lime and Arhil slowing them down.
Fortunately, the dragon head wasn't just fast; it could climb walls and glide smoothly over the debris of collapsed buildings blocking the way. That left only the elite dragonkin blocking their path as a concern. But even they couldn't fully focus on Judah's group.
The pillar of fire Requiem had created was gradually shrinking and seemed on the verge of vanishing, but it had already ensnared a massive number of dragonkin and other races in its magic. And that horde was flooding into the palace like a burst dam.
Still, while the elite dragonkin in their way were few, they weren't entirely absent. Their attacks cracked the dragon head's tough hide and inflicted serious wounds. Luckily, Judah's group had Arhil.
"To think the day would come when I'd be healing a monster..."
She trailed off, unable to finish her incredulous thought. The dragon head plunged down a building's side, forcing her to grit her teeth and swallow a scream. Resolutely, Arhil cast blessings and holy magic on the dragon head as a priestess. She couldn't apply direct healing to the wounds in this situation, but recovery spells on the target were enough. Fresh flesh sprouted over the injuries, and in gratitude—or so it seemed—the dragon head picked up speed.
"The pillar of fire's gone out!"
Lime shouted from behind. No need to yell; everyone had been tracking it and knew. The thinning column had finally extinguished completely. But its disappearance didn't restore sanity to the frenzied masses. By the time they neared the temple, the elite dragonkin barricades had limits; gaps had formed, and a fair number of other races were heading straight for it. The showed some had already arrived.
Aaaaaaaaah─────!
A mournful wail echoed as red dots tried to enter the temple.
The cry reverberated like an echo. Before entering this realm, it had just struck him as sad. Hearing it up close now left him feeling utterly drained. Not just strength ebbing away—his eyes welled up too.
Glancing back at the sniffling from behind, Arhil had tears streaming down her cheeks the moment she heard it, as if something in her chest had surged up. And finally, they reached the temple. The dragon head hooked its jaw onto the ceiling of a ruined building and peered down, letting Judah's group see what was happening.
Flames flickered brightly inside the temple. From within emerged a short-haired woman wielding a blazing sword, staggering forward. Her crimson bob reached her shoulders, jagged horns curved inward from between her locks, and her diamond-shaped golden eyes stared into empty space.
'Esther Sellion!'
She had slaughtered all the elite dragonkin who had been pouring mana into sealing Requiem alongside her inside, her body drenched in blood. Her clothes were in tatters. The black skirt hugging her hips was ripped open like a high slit, exposing her thighs, and the long-sleeved top was shredded into rags by sharp claws. The sleeves barely clung to her arms. This was no fit attire for one once called princess, now queen.
The only things preserving a shred of her dignity were the large ruby earrings and jeweled necklace adorning her ears and neck.
"Ugh..."
She groaned softly as she emerged. The moment her presence was revealed, the mindless dragonkin and other races stared at her in silence. Not at their princess-turned-queen in her pitiful state, trying to regain their senses—no, at the long, outstretched sword in her hand. Its silver blade, shimmering amid the flames, must have been mesmerizing.
She stumbled out like a drunk, directionless and teetering on the verge of collapse, before coming to a halt at the entrance. For a moment, sanity flickered back; her hazy eyes scanned the surroundings.
"Ah... Aaaah...!"
Tears streamed from her eyes.
Grrrrowl!
Nearby dragonkin bared their gums and climbed the stairs, elves and other races crowding behind. They'd fought each other on the way, but now they saw the queen holding Requiem as a common enemy—pushing past one another without clashing.
"D-don't come closer! No...!"
Esther Sellion didn't even notice Judah's group overlooking from atop the dragon head. She had no time to look. Her gaze fixed solely on the approaching dragonkin and other races.
The dragonkin reached the stairs first. Seeing this, Esther's face twisted in sorrow.
"Don't come... Don't come... Enough... We've done enough already!"
She started with a choked, pleading whisper, then devolved into a scream no one knew was directed at.
"Ah... Aaaah...!"
Tears wouldn't stop. A wail utterly unbecoming a queen burst from her lips. The piercing voice didn't grate or annoy—it dragged them into her grief. Arhil sniffled behind, Lime's eyes welled up with loud sniffles, even Iris's stoic gaze overlooking the queen grew teary. Judah felt it too.
"Don't come! I said don't come! Don't come... I said...!"
Her teeth bit into her lip, drawing blood. Dragon scales sprouted across her cheeks, murderous intent flickering in her tearful eyes. The sword in her hand roared with fiercer flames.
"No... My people... My kingdom! My people... My... kingdom... No more... I don't want this."
She staggered in place. At that vulnerable moment, two dragonkin slowly ascending the stairs seized the chance, leaping up simultaneously and landing beside her in an instant. One grabbed her head with its left hand as she reeled; her body spun in a circle. Thin ribbons of flame swirled in the air.
Grrk!?
The two dragonkin uttered puzzled cries. Mindless, yet their bodies wouldn't obey. They'd finished a short-range teleport and reached out—yet they stood frozen. As their gazes dropped, their bodies split in two and burst into flames.
Esther Sellion staggered. She lifted her head. Tears still flowed, but her bloodshot golden eyes sharply assessed the enemies' positions and numbers.
"I just want to stop burning them..."
Fwoosh!
Regardless of her murmur, the sword erupted in flames. Simultaneously, a massive explosion rocked the temple's interior; the roof shattered, and vast mana spread outward.
"Huh!?"
Lime gasped behind. This realm's mana density was already absurdly high compared to normal, yet now it dwarfed that.
[Absorbed dense mana. Mana +2.]
Judah was stunned that mere proximity had boosted his mana. Staying longer might raise it more, but Esther Sellion wouldn't allow that. She began to move. Her footsteps thudded on the stairs, making onlookers flinch. A powerful aura emanated from her.
"If there's a god... even without... someone... anyone... please... anyone... please..."
She staggered down another step, and dragonkin charged. To seize Requiem. Gracefully, like dancing, she slashed the sword. Flames trailed its arc like a blade, slicing and incinerating despite seeming immaterial. Dragonkin and other races howled and rushed her.
"Stop me."
She whispered faintly. Amid the roars, blazing flames, and explosions, it should have been inaudible—yet it rang crystal clear in Judah's ears.
Wuuuung!
The fragment in her hand—Requiem's blade—vibrated. The dense mana around it trembled in sync, rippling far and wide.
'Second wave.'
Unlike the first that destroyed nearby, this would spread farther, driving even high-resistance elite dragonkin mad and summoning them here. Lime raised a barrier, but it was futile. This was no physical phenomenon—a mental curse of sorts.
"Urk!"
He groaned, clutching his head. Arhil's blessing would let him endure. Though not chosen as saintess long ago with rigorous training, she had the talent.
"Lime, lose your mind here and it's over. You'll really die."
She didn't coax him leisurely with thoughts of wife and kids left at the tower. She trusted his magic resistance—higher than hers, at least. He'd hold. After a brief groan, he clenched his teeth.
"...Nngh, yes. Don't worry. I'm still fine."
Lime nodded at Judah's words. His reply drowned in the dragonkin and other races' howls. More ferociously berserk, they charged down the stairs toward Esther Sellion to claim Requiem. Like zombies spotting prey, they swarmed her. Could their numbers overwhelm her? Probably not—they'd die like moths to flame.
"Iris, we'll need to team up. You good?"
Iris nodded at Judah's question.
"Lime, protect Arhil as best you can and support us. I'll summon wraith knights and golems to guard you, but stay vigilant—things could get dicey."
Lime nodded too. To Arhil, he could only say be careful.
'Wish we had a strong ally to protect Arhil and Lime.'
Jeanne's face flashed, but doubtful she'd keep pace with their growth. Judah exhaled through his nose and urged the dragon head forward. It hesitated despite the signal.